Auto racing Champ Car released its 2008 schedule, opening the season in Long Beach to celebrate the premier Champ Car race's Silver Anniversary; introducing a new Champ Car World Series event in Jerez, Spain, to expand its profile in Europe; and featuring an enhanced Atlantic Championship schedule that includes two stand-alone races in Utah and Canada.
"We have succeeded in improving our schedules for next season, offering Champ Car Racing fans, sponsors, teams, drivers, TV broadcasters and other stakeholders a cohesive, strong calendar of events," said Champ Car CEO and President Steve Johnson. "We will stabilize our base in North America, begin a steady growth plan for Europe, and provide a balance of temporary and permanent circuits."
The Champ Car World Series, set to conduct its 30th season in 2008, will feature eight permanent road circuits and six temporary circuits. It will hold six U.S. races, three races in Canada and one race in Mexico to maintain its solid base in North America with 10 races. The open-wheel racing series also adds one new event in Europe to expand to three European races in 2008. The schedule is pending ACCUS/FIA approval.
"By pairing Jerez with Zolder and conducting them in June, we now will be in Europe during two different times next season rather than just one as we were in 2007," Johnson said. "Assen will remain in September, where it was very successful this year. The two 2008 trips expand our reach in Europe and establish two footprints for future growth there."
The Jerez circuit was built to host the 1986 Spanish Formula 1 Grand Prix, which was held there for seven years. Since 1989, Jerez also has hosted one of the most popular MotoGP races in the world, and the circuit continues to be used by Formula One teams for testing. Jerez features a 2.752-miles racing circuit in the south of Spain, set in a deep valley blessed with great weather and beautiful scenery. Jerez also hosted the European Grand Prix in 1994 and 1997, the latter a memorable race for Champ Car fans as Jacques Villeneuve, who won the Champ Car title in 1995, locked up the Formula One crown at Jerez. The circuit was resurfaced in 2005 and features updated corporate, media facilities, control tower and pit boxes.
